Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Infant was allowed to board after £1,000 bribe, now his family mourns his death

Time of India

12 hours ago

What should have been a routine airport check-in became a life-altering moment for Manish Kamdar. His 15-month-old grandson Rudra, daughter Yasha, and her mother-in-law Raxa Modha were among the 242 passengers on the ill-fated Air India AI-171 flight that crashed moments after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Extremely heartbreaking. 💔The Air India crash in Ahmedabad is a national tragedy.Prayers for the souls we lost. 🙏#planecrash #airindiaplanecrash #VijayRupani Shivaji Bridge #परमार्थ_कीअनोखी_मिसाल pic.twitter.com/9Mvw7tB3CW
Infant's boarding delay becomes a haunting memory
At the immigration counter, the officer questioned Rudra's eligibility to board the flight. Though Yasha, who held an Indian passport, and Raxa, who had a British one, were eventually cleared, the officer demanded additional documentation for Rudra, who was also travelling on a British passport. The family did not have the necessary papers.
A hefty payment and a last-minute boarding
Kamdar revealed that the officer insisted on a payment of £1,000 to allow the toddler to board. Raxa paid the amount. The three of them were among the final passengers to board the London-bound flight. Kamdar now sits in silence, tormented by thoughts of what could have been if Rudra had not been allowed on board. He is devastated by the fact that a delay, a refusal, or a stricter officer might have spared their lives.
#Breaking Air India plane AI171 crashed into Medical College in Ahmedabad - photos from crash siteTHE PLANE WAS UNABLE TO KNOCK DOWN DOUBLE STOREY BRICK HOUSE BUT IN NEW YORK (9/11) KNOCKED THE CONCREATE SKYSCREAPER WITH REINFORCED STEEL? FUCK OFF!!! pic.twitter.com/o4YwiMbzXu
Tragic aftermath: All hope lost in 33 seconds
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed just 33 seconds after take-off, slamming into a residential area in Meghani Nagar near a doctors' hostel. Rescue teams have since recovered more bodies, including one lodged in the aircraft's tail, bringing the death toll to over 260. The flight was carrying 242 people, including 169 Indians, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian, and 12 crew members.
Sharing this video as a heartfelt tribute to the brave crew members we lost in the Air India Ahmedabad crash. Their dedication, courage, and service will never be forgotten. Let us remember their stories and honor their memory by keeping them in our thoughts and prayers. May… pic.twitter.com/Eh0gK6tbUz
Only one passenger survived, a British national named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A. The rest perished in the wreckage, which caused massive destruction on the ground.
From survival to unimaginable loss
Kamdar's grief is endless. He is left questioning every moment of that airport interaction. Had the officer been more firm, had they been turned away, perhaps his daughter, grandson, and their family matriarch might still be alive. What seemed like a relief at the time, being allowed to board, became the very source of unimaginable loss.